Mini Cooper Special Edition 7 2017 overview
Content
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
- How practical is the interior space? 6/10
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 8/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 6/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10
- Verdict
- Is the Mini 3-Door Cooper Seven the best value Mini ever, or is there a better way to spend $30?
| Mini Cooper 2017: ONE 5D Hatchback | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 1.2 L turbo |
| fuel type | Premium unleaded gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | 5.1l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $13,200 |
Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
That original Austin Seven Mini was 3277mm long and 1346mm high, while the new third-generation 3-door Mini is over half a meter longer: 3821mm from end to end and 1414mm high. However, the new Mini 3-Door is really small, in comparison, the Corolla hatchback is 4330mm long and 1475mm high, although not many would-be Mini buyers are considering a Corolla as well. To be fair, the Mini is pretty much the exact opposite of the Corolla.
Outside, there's cool, quirky nostalgic styling with an upright windshield, short wheelbase, and beetle headlights. (Image credit: Richard Berry)
I don't mean the price difference - you might be surprised by the fact that the 3-door Cooper Seven and Corolla ZR are close in price (pssst, the Corolla costs more), but it's more about how the Mini designers seem to have won the war with the engineers in the victory of form over function. We're talking cool, quirky nostalgic styling on the outside, with that upright windshield, short wheelbase and bug headlights, and the same retro quirkiness in the cabin, with a central, dash-mounted speedometer and airplane-style shifters throughout.
The Seven package includes badass stripes, a silver roof and nicer upholstery, as well as front sport seats. And just to let everyone know that you have a special edition (well, Mini Cooper owners, anyway), there's also a 7 badge.
Front space is excellent, with great head, leg and shoulder room. (Image credit: Richard Berry)
If you're thinking of the Mini Seven Cooper or any 3-door Mini, you should also take a look at the Fiat 500 or the Audi A1.
How practical is the interior space? 6/10
First the good news. Even at 191cm, I don't feel too big at all behind the wheel of a Mini Cooper Seven. Front space is excellent, with great head, leg and shoulder room.
It's in the back seat that taller people get the bad news - I couldn't sit in my driver's seat, I tried, and I'd have to dangle my legs off the driver's shoulders to survive there. This is not a consolation, but in the second row, thanks to the high roof line, there is a lot of headroom. Small people and children shouldn't have any problems unless they want to roll down the window, which they can't do because it's fixed.
Even at 191cm, I don't feel too big at all behind the wheel of a Mini Cooper Seven. (Image credit: Richard Berry)
The Cooper Seven is a four-seater with three giant cup holders in the back and two more in the front, which is great, but there isn't much storage space in the cabin other than the glove box. The trunk is small - 211 liters - the Fiat 500 has less - 185 liters, while the Audi A1 has more - 270 liters.
However, it will be difficult for you to fit a proper size stroller into any of them, so let's be honest, none of them will be ideal for a small family with kids. The 5-door Mini and Countryman (in which I brought my newborn baby home from the hospital) are much more practical.
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
The Cooper 3-Door Hatch Seven costs $29,400, which is $2000 more than the regular 3-door Cooper it's based on, but Mini says you get the extra features for $7000. This includes things like sports seats and upgraded upholstery, sat-nav, a rear-view camera, hood stripes, a silver roof, 17-inch alloy wheels, and black interior trim.
This is on top of the usual standard Cooper features which include a center display, digital radio, automatic halogen headlights, automatic wipers and LED interior lighting.
It's in the back seat that taller people get the bad news - I couldn't sit in my driver's seat. (Image credit: Richard Berry)
Is it a good value? Yes, but not much, and only because of a special offer that gives you an extra $7 for an extra $2. I would buy this version instead of the regular Cooper which costs $27,400 and doesn't have a lot of standard features.
To be fair, it has a feature set compared to the original 1959 Austin Seven 'Mini' referenced in the Limited Edition Seven package, but again, this car only had indicators, headlights, wipers, and a (probably rather hopeless) heater. and speedometer.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
The 3-door Cooper Seven has the same 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine as the regular Cooper and offers the same 100kW/220Nm power. This engine is also used in the BMW 1 Series and it's a great unit that feels sporty and grouchy.
The Mini designers seem to have won the war with the engineers by beating form over function. (Image credit: Richard Berry)
The six-speed automatic is very good, the shifts are decisive and the manual mode is good for getting more into the action.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
Mini says you should expect the 3-door Cooper Seven to consume 4.9L/100km if it's driven on country, city, and city roads. Our time was spent on city adventures and the onboard computer told me that our test car averaged 10.1L/100km.
What is it like to drive? 8/10
The Special does not cover this because I really enjoyed driving this Mini. A short wheelbase with short overhangs, a great BMW engine and suspension, sharp steering, decent brakes and great handling make the Cooper Seven so fun to drive.
The trunk is small - 211 liters - the Audi A1 has more - 270 liters. (Image credit: Richard Berry)
This thing is light (1115kg) and nimble, but if you push it too hard, it will twitch a little. However, I like a car that is relevant and "answers" from time to time, and if you enjoy driving, you'll love it too.
The sport seats that come with the Seven package are excellent. Comfortable and supportive, they are also quite snug with some serious lateral support. The base has a pull out section for longer legs like mine.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
3 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 6/10
This limited edition may be new, but the third-generation Mini first appeared in 2014 and received a four-out-of-five-star safety rating - let down everything that was "marginal" driver side impact protection.
There is traction and stability control, but the standard advanced safety equipment is a bit lacking. The Control package is optional and adds AEB, adaptive cruise control and LED headlights.
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10
Mini vehicles are covered by a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Mini has a five-year/80,000 km service plan for a total of $1240. As with BMWs, Mini service is conditional - the car will tell you when it needs service.
Verdict
Minis have cool, bold styling and are great to drive, but they tend to be a bit overpriced and not functional enough. What the Cooper Seven 3-door hatch does is improve value for money to something that is already a pleasure to drive.
Is the Mini 3-Door Cooper Seven the best value Mini ever, or is there a better way to spend $30?
